Monday, January 15, 2018

back to simpler times

A time when there was no interruption due to the internet or television.

A time when there was no pressure to be like everybody else.

A time when our way of life was plain and simple.

A time when life was slower.

Recently I read this post and to say it shocked me to the core is an understatement. My mind has been going over and over the words this young woman wrote before taking her last breath on earth on 4th of January this year.

Since that day I have purposely found myself back living a simpler life.

I have been breathing and taking in the blue skies and all that nature has to offer.

I find myself sitting here more.

Sitting, gazing and listening. Listening to the peaceful bird songs and the gentle tunes played by the wind chimes.

I am loving spending time in my kitchen, and creating healthy nutritious meals.

I am enjoying the simple pleasures.

There is quite a lot of thinking going on about my life.

If I disappear for a while you will know why. It will be because I am actually living this simple life I portray here on this blog.

I have made the decision to spend less time on social media sites. They are stealing my precious time and I don't want that.

I love my family...here my two eldest girls enjoy cuddles with their niece and nephew. They both made the decision not to have children, so this time is really special for them (and me). This is what life is all about. Its not in the material things we collect, its in the memories we collect.

God's beauty and creation is all around...so its time to hop off the busy merry-go-round and start enjoying the simple things.

This is an absolutely wonderful post. Such wise words. I do want my life to be simple. I know there are many who wants that, but overall perhaps we are the minority. Like you, I really enjoy cooking, gardening, sewing and spending time with loved ones.

Sometimes I wonder if I was born in the wrong era. Then I again, I think this is better than the nostalgic past. Today we are lucky to be able to choose what we want. We can choose to be a homemaker, a career woman, or balance both depending on each one's preference and circumstances. In a way, it's harder to live a simpler life in a world with so many distractions though. But as I grow older, I think it gets easier to overcome outside distractions, peer pressure etc.

I love what you wrote here. "Its not in the material things we collect, its in the memories we collect. " So true!

Such wise words, Tania! My simpler life (a work in progress and not a destination) provides me with a measure of peace and solace and joy that I protect as much as I can from the things I feel disrupt it. That is not always easy but when I feel disquiet it is always to the people and to nature that I turn. I hope you find your own peace there...it sounds like you know where to look. Meg Xx

How beautifully put your post is, I felt more relaxed and grounded just reading it. I decided that i would not post on my blog unless there was something very interesting I wanted to share, and it has become so much easier and fulfilling.

Tania, what a poignant post that young girl wrote before she died and what she said is so true. It is the simple life around here and always has been. The simple things in life are usually free and easily accessible. When it isn't in the middle of a heatwave I love just spending time in the garden looking at the beauty there even if it is surrounded by weeds :-)

I too have tried hard to live simply almost all of my life, although at times I have given in to worldly things (and then regretted it). There seems to be a constant bombardment of others telling us that we should have this and should do that. This is not what I want in my quest to live simply. Not sure I have worded this well so you understand, but it makes sense to me at least haha!

You're not alone Tania, I think there are lots of us thinking along the same lines. Your photos of the rainbow and the sunset are beautiful and full of promise I think. God made the world in six days and He rested on the seventh, then He dedicated that seventh day to a day of rest for us, and I'm so grateful. Saturday has always been our day off, but Wayne and I decided half-way through last year to make Saturday technology free and it is wonderful. No FB, no tablets/emails/blogs, no games or puzzles taking our attention away from each other, family and home from Friday night until Sunday morning. It is bliss and I crave the next Saturday from when I get up Sunday morning. If you "disappear" we'll know you're taking care of you and your family and we'll all understand. xxx Cath

Thank you for your wise words. I like the idea of "switching off" for one day a week. Before I wrote this post I was thinking of going completely offline for a month and go from there, but maybe that was too big to achieve. I can understand with your busy life how you would crave for more than one day.

I have intentions to stick around but it may get quiet from time to time on this blog, and it seems that most understand where I am coming from.

Every year i try to simplify my life more and more. Recently i appreciated the fact that the Christmas holidays were here BECAUSE our house is 1 paddock away from a fairly busy road and people were not going to work and i opened the door and could hear the birds singing and it was so beautiful. We are moving from here end of May and i pray we will have a home not near a road and whereby i can sit on the porch and listen to the birds and look at the sky and feel peace

Thank you for taking the time to comment. This sounds a lot like where we live. We are out of town but a main heavy vehicle bypass goes past the front of our block and there is always traffic unfortunately, but I have learned to tune out. Our advantage is we have a nice lot of trees and shrubs growing along the front on a ridge so this helps to keep the noise down and the road from view. Of course there are the noisy ones that we cant block out!

Gorgeous photos, Tania! Wow, you are such a talented gardener, photographer, and crocheter. That afghan on your bench is so pretty. I think we are fortunate that we can live a simple live in these times. So much of it is our mindset. It looks like you live in a beautiful area, and are making the most of it. I believe we were born at this time for a reason. You are making a great contribution to the world with you blog. I always enjoy your posts, and have gotten many readers because of you. Thank you.

Nice photos, I like the looks of the house truck. Some people are living their whole lives on the internet, it is a good thing to limithow much time is invested in something that doesn't really exist in the real physical world. Cold here, I have 3 wood stoves going tonight.

Oh yes. I do I’ve taken a step back from social mediaI scan Facebook as it’s easy on the phone while waiting for people to arrive or for appointments I read blogs but not everyday I’m busy with my family and friends So much happier I think Don’t leave, visit us. But don’t fall into the modern traps

I was doing all of that this morning. Had the smell and sound of rain to go with it. The remnant of ex tropical cyclone come down all the way from the north of WA. I am way down the south west of WA. Nature is just so awesome. I very rarely comment on posts, but this one really tugged at the heartstrings.

Welcome Carla, and thank you for commenting. It is great to hear from you. I was hoping we would get some of that rain from the cyclone as we sometimes do, but not this time unfortunately. We have a heatwave for the next week instead, that should be fun (not) and will test the veggie garden.

Have just read Holly's post and am still wiping away the tears. She is so right that we get caught up with silly small things, when really, Life is good. Life is such a precious commodity and one I often am guilty of taking for granted. Thank you for this post. I went on a self imposed media ban at Christmas. I have slipped back into checking my accounts too often. Back to living my life and not the life I see when I view my computer screen. Yes it is time to find the joy in the simple once more.

Hello Tania, A wonderful & very thought provoking post. I had read that girls letter somewhere else on the interweb & it always brings a great big lump to my throat. I am trying to live more simply this year too ... I think if we all try just a teeny bit, its okay to slip up sometimes, just get back on track again & not feel like we have failed. Just small steps each day. Xxx

Hi, Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage here. I just found your blog because someone came from yours to mine today. I am fighting breast cancer. Your post hit home with me. God bless you dearie. Let's be more present in our lives. Technology has been distracting my homeschooled family. I hate it. Everyone with their face in a phone or device. God help us.Laura

Sorry to hear of your breast cancer battle, it must be a trying time for you right now. We have this horrible cancer in our family and I am constantly aware of my risk and those of my three grown daughters too. So far I have only had one scare but it turned out to be benign lumps. A big sigh of relief for me.

I am very concerned for our young ones, and the generations to come. They are so addicted to technology, and surely this is not a good thing. Even some of our older generation have the same problem.

I will pray for you sweet one, and your family. I hope you come through your treatment okay.

hi Tania what a great post I just read Hollys very wise and beautiful words and am sitting here with tears streaming down my cheeks I am going through some tough times with my sons health at the moment and it reminded me to take a breath and a break and still see the beauty in life around me about to take a cup of tea and sit in the garden and take in nature and breath.

So good to hear from you. I am sorry to hear your son is experiencing health problems. Being thankful for all the blessings in our lives helps us cope. Breathing in the fresh air, and listening to nature definitely improves our mood. Enjoying that with a nice cup of tea...lovely.

Lovely post Tania. Thanks for the link to Holly's message. I've been having a blog break as there is still much to do around my "new" house. Lots of planning and changing. I'm also trying to find employment, attending a course that will give me new work skills, and involving myself in community like the neighbourhood centre.

It's easier said than done, but it sounds as though we're both giving it our best effort! There are times that I feel that it's simply age or nostalgia catching up to me, but then again, this world has become just too much at times, and I find myself withdrawing more and more... yet drawing deep within myself at the same time. Wishing you the best! xoxo

Thank you for the wisdom in your comment. I know you have had a lot to deal with in your life, and you are trying hard at giving life your best. I have reached an age where I seem to feeling a bit lost and just need to find direction again.

It really resonates with me too, we are striving for a much, much simpler life. Growing and producing what we eat and need, and working together to live our lives rather than going out to work to pay for our lives.

It's nice to jump off the modern bandwagon and live life at a more comfortable pace.